sport news Man United: How Marcus Rashford has begun to look a player reborn under the ... trends now

sport news Man United: How Marcus Rashford has begun to look a player reborn under the ... trends now
sport news Man United: How Marcus Rashford has begun to look a player reborn under the ... trends now

sport news Man United: How Marcus Rashford has begun to look a player reborn under the ... trends now

January 2022. Significant for being the month which saw Marcus Rashford score his final Premier League goal of the 2021-22 campaign, despite playing in 12 games thereafter. 

Rashford only scored one more league goal (four) than the number of people he was managed by last season (three).  

Such statistics lay bare the turbulence that beset Manchester United last season, with Rashford himself one of the most impacted by what many believe to the club's worst campaign in the modern era. 

Manchester United have looked a revitalised team in the previous four games - with Marcus Rashford playing a key part in their renaissance

Manchester United have looked a revitalised team in the previous four games - with Marcus Rashford playing a key part in their renaissance

The turbulence, compiled by Rashford's post-European Championship shoulder surgery amid the heartbreak of missing a penalty and the racist abuse that came after followed by a subsequent loss of form, contributed to the Englishman's worst season since breaking into the United first team in February 2016. 

Rumours of a departure, possibly to PSG, circulated as winter turned to spring and then spring to summer with a nagging feeling that the one-time great hope of the post-Ferguson era-United needed a change of scenery to revitalise his ailing career. 

In fact, all he appeared to need was an arm around his shoulder and willing runners around him to revive both his United performances - and with that a chance at making Gareth Southgate's squad for the World Cup in Qatar. 

Rashford has three goals and two assists so far this season - already almost at last year's tally

Rashford has three goals and two assists so far this season - already almost at last year's tally

Ten Hag's arrival at the club in June signalled a positive mood change for the United forward, with the Dutchman admitting that he was willing to work with what he had to improve the club's fortunes.

His insistence that the players press at all times, whether in a low block or trying to play expansively, signified a move away from Cristiano Ronaldo at the apex of the team, giving Rashford a chance through the middle. 

'I know only that I have my ideas, how I bring structure in a team and I do it in every topic of football. For me, pressing is an important factor. If you want to have initiative in a game I think it's necessary,' Ten Hag said.   

'If you do that in a high block or in a low block, that is a tactic that can be both ways. I prefer to do it in a high way, in high pressing, but it will not always be the case. There's also situations, games that you are lower. But what I demand from my team is that they press.'

Erik ten Hag has shown faith in Rashford, 24, by putting him at the centre-forward position

Erik ten Hag has shown faith in Rashford, 24, by putting him at the centre-forward position

Rashford's ability - and willingness - to press from the front has seen him become one of the new manager's early trusted lieutenants. 

He's played at least 80 minutes in every game so far this season. In terms of outfield players, only Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Christian Eriksen have played more minutes than Rashford's 520 thus far. He only played more than 80 minutes on five occasions last term. 

It remains to be seen over a longer period, but it also appears as though the forward has managed to put the injury troubles that blighted his season last year behind him. 

A year on from his shoulder surgery that in essence ended his campaign before it had even begun, Rashford looks fitter and stronger. That is to the benefit of an equally revitalised United side. 

Ten Hag's faith in his forward is abundantly clear. After United lost their opening two fixtures to Brighton and Brentford, there was some clamour amongst the club's supporters for the Dutchman to move away from Rashford. 

His missed chance at 2-1 down in the first game of the season infuriated many, while the team's general performance away at Brentford was nowhere near the level expected of the players. 

Ten Hag went the opposite way. He moved away from his initial plan of playing midfielder Christian Eriksen as a false nine against Brighton, a disastrous experiment. Meanwhile, against Brentford, wantaway star Cristiano Ronaldo was recalled.

However, knowing speed on the break against Liverpool's high line to be paramount, Ten Hag reverted to playing a more conventional front line with Rashford through the middle. 

The decision immediately bore fruit, with the forward's tireless running causing Liverpool issues throughout on an off-night for Virgil van Dijk and the rest of the Reds' back four. Opportunities came and went in the first half, not least to Anthony Elanga, who hit the post when he should have scored, with only Alisson to beat. 

Rashford's career at United was in danger of tailing off but recent form suggests he could be a player re-born

Rashford's career at United was in danger of tailing off but recent form suggests he could be a player re-born

It was Rashford's intelligent run back into midfield that allowed Fernandes to run beyond him and square the ball for Elanga. 

Such movement was simply not there for Rashford last season with confidence instilled by his new manager having a positive impact on the wider aspects of his game. It is also notable that it is probably not a run Ronaldo would make.

In the second half, United found themselves camped in their own half under  sustained Liverpool pressure. Rashford playing through the middle offered them an out ball and his second-half goal gave the Red Devils a two-goal advantage. 

It was his first goal at Old Trafford since January and indeed his first league goal since that same month. The confidence of his finish when racing through against the Liverpool goalkeeper with an anticipating Stretford End ahead of him suggests he is on the path to revival. 

Rashford's stellar start to the campaign has been notable in one sense for Ronaldo being absent. It appeared the Portuguese's presence last term unbalanced the forward line, irrespective of the number of goals he scored. 

Rashford was a

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